By Jean Sibelius is what I’ve been playing on the piano recently. My dad asked me why I liked it. Which was a good question I’d never thought about it before. I like the part where a fermata hovers boldly over a bar. Fermatas mean hold longer than normal–it’s at the player’s discretion. But this […]
Tag: music
Brain, music, memory
When I was a kid I played the piano a lot and for a long time. I was good. I got good. Then I grew up and I stopped. In New York City no one I knew I had a piano. Some people had keyboards but a keyboard could never do Chopin justice. It just […]
Performance anxiety
All month there have been upright pianos sitting out in public spaces around New York City. They do this every year, but this was the first year that I got myself together enough to track one down and play it. When I sat down at one for the first time I was very nervous. I […]
I leave the light on for when I get home
Taking inspiration from a song, I have started thinking of my past and future selves as totally different people than my present self. Following this logic, I think about the things that I do for myself as things that I am doing for my future self (a different person). And I think about things that […]
We are going to travel in our minds
To Chile Where we will see Ana Tijoux And Alex Anwandter play and sing in dim bars. If their music so inclines you, look up their stories. They are unique and fascinating.
Spanish pop music: come on, I know you’re dying to listen…
My students have kindly introduced me to the very best of Spanish pop music. I’ve sifted through about fifty or so of their recommendations and here are a few of my favs. (All are strictly from Spain.) Amaral One of the best-selling pop rock Spanish groups. In “Son Mis Amigos” (These are My Friends) she […]
Anne Foster 